Surfboard and means for propelling same



Nov. 5, 1968 R. ELLIS 3,408,976

SURFBOARD AND MEANS FOR PROPELLING SAME Filed Oct. 3l, 1967 2 Sheets-5h66?l l Nov. 5, 1968 R. ELLIS 3,408,976

SURFBOARD AND MEANS FOR PROPELLING SAME Filed Oct. 3l, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheel'. 2

United States Patent() 3,408,976 SURFBOARD-AND MEANS FOR PROPELLINGl SAME Robert Ellis, 350 E. Plaza, Solana Beach, Calif. 92075 Filed Oct. 31, 1967, SenNo. 679,395` y 2 Claims. (Cl. 115-.70)`

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A Surfboard having propelling mechanism providing forward motion by means of reaction created by the rearward water discharge of a centrifugal pump located in the necessarily cramped hollow'housing, the impeller of the pump. being rotated either by muscular exertion of the surfer on deck or electrically from battery energy. Water enters the vpump from the bottom and flows outward through the rear, thus creating the required reaction for forward movement. This mechanism permits the board to be free of all protuberances to prevent scratches and bruises to the surfer and adjacent bathers. The discharged water flows centrally underneath the board through a slightly diverging tunnel to create more torque and incidentally the inner edges of the tunnel being sufllcient to supplant the dangerous skeg or keel.

This invention relates to surfboards and means for propelling same and the principal object of the invention is the means provided for a propelling mechanism especially applicable to surfboards in which all the mechanism is housed within the limited configuration thereof, thus leaving the outside surface of the board free of all projections thereby making it impossible to scratch or bruise either the surfer or adjacent bathers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a propelling mechanism which forces the Surfboard forward entirely by reaction, a small centrifugal water pump being operated either by the use of electric batteries or by the surfer while either kneeling or standing on the deck of the board.

Other and further objects will appear in the specifications and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exernplifying the invention, and in which:

FIGQl shows a top view of a Surfboard partly in section, illustrating the means for electric operation of the board.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the board.

FIG. 4 is a partial bottom view of the board.

FIG. 5 is an electric diagram of the wiring.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6--6 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the ratchet mechanism used when operating the propelling mechanism by hand.

FIG. 9 is a side view of FIG. 8, partly in section.

Referring to the drawings in which like characters and numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 denotes the body of the Surfboard which is constructed generally of plastic foam while 11 denotes the hard and smooth outer skin. Within the body 10 of the board are two separate hollow compartments A and B for housing the electric motor 12 and centrifugal water pump 13, and the electric battery 14 respectively, see FIGS. 1 and 2. In operation, the surfer stands on the deck 15 of the board either while surfing or getting into location for surfing, and by placing his foot on the elastic rubber plate 16, which is stretched downward to dotted line 60 due to his weight, presses the button 17 onto the electric contacts 18, thus 3,408,976 Patented Nov. 5, 1968 2 closing the circuit to the electric motor 12,which in turn rotates the impeller shaft 19 by means of belt 20 running over pulleys 27 and 28, in thedirection of arrow- 21 which action causes waterto-be sucked up into the pump from the bottom as indicated by arrow 22 and discharges the water rearward throughvpipe or trough 23 in the direction of arrow 26 and through outlet 24 into the sea, the water level being indicated by 25. It will be apparent that, as the water is propelled rearwardly from the pump 13, an equal reaction results which in turn causes the board to be propelled forward, the part F being the front end of the board. To stop the forward movement of the board the surfer merely removes his foot from the elastic plate 16, this plate being normally glued onto the deck 15 over the rigid covers 29. The plate 16 prevents water from trickling into hollow compartments A and B but may be removed by heating slightly and pulling it ofr' as indicated by the dotted line 30 for access to the interior of compartments A and B. Most surfboards are reinforced by wood strips 31. It will be noted that the discharge pipe or trough 23 diverges towards the rear so that full I advantage may be taken of the fast moving water out of the pump 13 to increase the reaction effect. FIG. 4 shows the intake strainer plate 32 through which the water from the sea is sucked into the pump 13 as indicated by arrow 33.

Referring to the electric diagram shown in FIG. 5, the battery is denoted by 14 from which wire 34 leads to motor 12 and from motor to switch 17 by wire 35 and to other terminal of battery by Wire 36. A receptacle 37 is mounted to the side of the Surfboard which enables the battery to be recharged overnight when board is not in use, the wires leading thereto being numbered 38 and 39 respectively.

If it is desired to propel the Surfboard by muscle power, see FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, illustrating the mechanism used to operate the centrifugal pump 13, to create the reactive force to move the board forward as previously described, a friction pulley 28A is secured to impeller shaft 19 which is driven by larger friction pulley 40, rotating in the direction of arrow 42, and which in turn is caused to rotate by pulley 41 which is. free to rotate around shaft 43, which shaft has ratchet teeth 44 cut into it as shown by FIGS. 8 and 9. As pulley 40 is securely attached'to shaft 43, it will be caused to rotate only when pulley 41 rotates in the direction of arrow 42 and this occurs when the surfer S pulls on rope 45, either of the pawls 46 or 47 engaging the nearest tooth 44 as indicated in FIG. 8, causing the impeller shaft 19 to rotate in the direction of arrow 48 and force water through the trough 23 and outlet 24 causing the desired reaction from the fast moving rearward directed water. O11 the return stroke of the rope 45, the pulley 41 will rotate in the opposite direction to arrow 42, the pawls disengaging and having no effect. 'I'he surfer S may alternate pulls on the ropes 45 and 49 for easier and more steady results or he may pull both ropes simultaneously for a quicker start. The pawls 46 and 47 are urged towards teeth 44 by means of flat spring 52 attached to side of pulley 41 by pins 53. Ropes 45 and 49 pass over suitable pulleys 54 before passing over the deck 15 through holes 56. Each rope terminates with a handle 57 which preferably consists of a short tube with a centrally disposed hole on one side through which the rope passes, a knot being tied within the tube so as not to interfere with the hand grip. Suitable depressions 58 are sunk in the deck 15 so as to contain the handles 57 ush with the deck when ropes 45 and 49 are released by the surfer. Helical springs 50 and 51 are attached to the other end of ropes 45 and 49 respectively, which springs are housed in tubes or troughs 59 as shown in FIGS. 6

andl.V These `springsput a slight tension on ropes 45 and 49 at al1 times and tend to keep the ropes taut and afford lbetter frictional contact between them and the pulleys as well as retracting the ropes into their housings 57 as soon as the surfer releases his grip thereon. The ropes 45 and 49 preferably have ll/z turns around each pulley 41 for better traction.

In practice, the use of a Surfboard is closely limited to weather conditions and-size of the board as there must be waves, not too small but if (they are tooA large then the atmospheric conditions are prohibitive to their use on' account of violent winds. The size of the Surfboard cannot be larger than 101/2 feet long by two feet wide and only three inches in thickness as a Surfboard can only be handled by one person. To get the propelling mechanism within these limits is therefore a problem which only this invention has solved by using a centrifugal pump as herein illustrated. Heretofore the only method of propelling surfboards was by the use of paddles attached to the outer side of the board, the moving paddles likely to be dangerous to both surfer and adjacent bathers. Invariably, when a surfer glides through a wavebreaking surf, he is thrown violently off the board out of control and therefore the outer lsurface of the board must be free of all protuberances.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have evolved a better and safer means for propelling a Surfboard, no paddles or other outside moving parts being required, all the mechanism being small and compact so as to fit into a small hollow space within the Surfboard without causing any enlargement therof, and incidentally converting the energy imparted thereto to supply the maximum eiciency and in the case of manual operation, the least exertion, the propelling means also having the least weight and cost, and when the surfer arrives at his selected wave, his release of the operating mechanism will quickly return the Surfboard to its normal smooth outer surface free from dangerous protuberances.

1. In a Surfboard, a hollow water-proof compartment within the interior of Said Surfboard, a forward propelling means for said Surfboard, said propelling means being housed within said hollowfcriipartrnent, said propelling means comprising Yya, centrifugal :watt-.fr pump said pump being mounted axially vertical, alvifatq'er;v intake for Said pump, Said intakeextendin'g through the bottom of said Surfboard directly beneath said pump, an outlet in the rear of said Surfboard for the water passing through said pump, the reaction of said rearwardly propelled water causing said Surfboardl to` be pushed forwardly, said means further comprising 'an'electric motor; an electric battery for creating electric Venergy for actuating said motor, an electric circuit connecting said battery to said motor, an electric vswitch interposedy in said electric circuit, a pulley onthe shaft ofsaidmotor, apulley on the shaft of said centrifugal pump, anda belt between said two pulleys the closing of saidswitch causing. said motor to rotate the impeller shaft of said centrifugal pump, to deliver water towards the rear of Said Surfboard, and an aperture in said deck, said aperturebeing located directly above Said electric switch in aforesaid hollow compartment, and an elastic rubber mat, Said mat being mounted at on the deck oversaid aperture, the pressure by the foot of a surfer causing said elastic rubber -mat to stretch4 downwardly sufficiently to close said electric switch toy actuate Said motor and pump.

2. As in claim 1, the discharge outlet from said cen- 7/1966 Douglas etal. 115-70 9/1967 Tyrack 11S-70 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assz'stat Examiner. 

